This year, 29 students had the unique opportunity to contribute to an international research project at jGlobal, where they explored online choice preferences across 26 countries. The study, spearheaded by PhD candidate Friederike Stock from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, investigated how people prefer their online spaces to be regulated—whether by governments, businesses, or individuals—and the intended beneficiaries of these regulations, such as personal, commercial, or societal interests.

During their three-week stay in Cambridge, the students were actively involved in every phase of the research process. They adapted and translated the research tools, gathered and analysed data, and participated in the writing process. Their research stay also included specialised training sessions on R Studio for data analysis and Tableau for data visualisation, helping them develop critical technical skills.

We are grateful to Friederike’s mentors, Dr. Philipp Lorenz-Spreen and Professor Ralph Hertwig, for their exceptional guidance throughout the project. This project provided the students with hands-on experience in global research and interdisciplinary collaboration.